A great day indeed--the lead in the Associated Press story said it all:
NEW YORK - Thanks to Bob Dylan, rock 'n' roll has finally broken through the Pulitzer wall. Dylan, the most acclaimed and influential songwriter of the past half century, who more than anyone brought rock from the streets to the lecture hall, received an honorary Pulitzer Prize on Monday, cited for his "profound impact on popular music and American culture, marked by lyrical compositions of extraordinary poetic power.
It was the first time Pulitzer judges, who have long favored classical music, and, more recently, jazz, awarded an art form once dismissed as barbaric, even subversive.
"I am in disbelief," Dylan fan and fellow Pulitzer winner Junot Diaz said of Dylan's award.
Me too. The Pulitzer committee has finally done the right thing. At the top of this post is a mid-60's bumper sticker (by San Diego Poster Print) from my collection that pretty much says it all, don't you think ?And on the subject, if you're anywhere near the Los Angeles area between now and June 8, make it your business to see the final stop of "Bob Dylan's American Journey, 1956-1966" at the Skirball Cultural Center. While I'm far from an objective observer (having been a curatorial consultant and lender to the exhibit) this first ever authorized museum show devoted to Dylan is nothing short of astounding. It includes more than 150 awe-inspiring Dylan artifacts (his first acoustic guitar, and original typed/handwritten lyric sheets for "Blowin' In The Wind" and "Gates of Eden",) rare audio (the only known tape of his debut concert at the Carnegie Charter Hall,) rare video (outtakes from "Eat The Document" and much rare live and interview footage,) and other incredible things you'll never see anywhere else (Woody Guthrie's t-shirt that he wore at Brooklyn State Hospital, and his original lyrics to "Grand Coolie Dam.") I've seen the exhibit numerous times, in Seattle, New York, and now here, and this installation is by far the best. I doubt you'll ever have the opportunity again to see this amazing collection of Dylan artifacts, film, and tape--so do check it out (free admission on Thursdays too.)
That's it for now. Congratulations Bob !
1 comment:
I saw the exhibit in both Minneapolis and in LosAngeles. The beginning and the end. The end was better in that they added a music room with guitars and drums and organs. Me and the other kids we pounded out the beat, and sang into the mic and got down on the guitar, we had fun and the kids eyes light up and fun is so much better than not fun. Dylan, ya!
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